Header construction for sliding doors



June 6, 1944. R. L.. LONG 2,350,689

` HEADER CONSTRUCTION FOR SLIDING DOORS A Filed sept. 29. 1941 jm* 210e 'm figg? Mgf'mg A Patented June 6, 1944 A UNITED sTATEe sind HEADER CONSTRUCTION FOR SLIDING DOQRS Ralph L. Long, San DiegohCalif.

` Y Application september 29, 1941, seria1No.412,s94

1 Claim. (ci. 16--96 VThis invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a header construction for sliding' doors and it is of such design and construction that it can be built inA various sizes to answer allrequirements for standard building plans.

The main object of this invention is to construct a composite header in which the various parts thereof are of wood, and are so shaped as to provide an internal trackway extending longitudinally therethrough for the accommodation of a hanger for a sliding door.

It is also an object f the present invention to provide a hardwood tractive surface upon which the rollers of the door hanger ride. This hardwood surface will increase the life or usefulness of the hanger as the frictional wear thereon due to the movement of the hanger is practically nil.

A still further object of the invention resides in the construction of a composite header, the side walls and upper portion of which canrbe made of a lighter and cheaper grade of wood, while the lower or track surface is of a harder or closer grained type which alords a better wearing surface.

A further aim of the invention resides in the provision of a header wherein the side walls and the top wall, and the base surfaces can be grooved or milled at the factory and either assembled in composite form there, or shipped in knock-down form and assembled on the job.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a Wooden header in which the trackway may be enlarged by using a wider insert between the side sections.

A still further aim of the invention is to provide an opening in the base of the header through which the hanger elements may be inserted, or removed as the case may be.

These and other objects will readily present themselves to those skilled in this particular art, when the following specification is read in connection with the attached drawing, wherein similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the header and showing the same in applied position within the wall structure of a building and illustrating the application of a hanger element within the header and a door suspended on the hanger;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the header showing the opening leading Vlil-Ii! is inserted a filler strip l2.

trackway, and a hanger element being inserted through the opening; Y

Figure 3 is a side view of the closure plugthat is inserted into the opening in the hea-der;`

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional-view illustrating the formation of a dual trackway in the head-A er and Figure 5 is a modied form of header wherein the trackway is substantially square, Y being formed by associating straight walled pieces of timber.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, lii-I indicates the side pieces of the header, which are preferably grooved as shown in Figure l, at il-l I, to form the side walls of the trackway. Between the upper portions of the side pieces This filler strip is made in suitable widths to meet the various demands for different sizes of headers. The lower surface of the ller strip i2 forms the top wall of the trackway. Secured to the lower edges of the side pieces Ill-I0 is the track surface I3, the grade of which is of a harder type, or closer grained wood than that of the side and top pieces.

The surface connections between the several pieces may be glued, cemented, nailed or screwed, and have tongue and grooved joints as suggested at I4.

The track surface I 3 has a longitudinal slot l5 through which the shank I6 of a roller type of hanger Il extends. The lower end of the shank makes a suitable connection with the upper edge of a door i8, thereby suspending the door for sliding movement. The specific details of the hanger are not referred to herein, as the same forms the subject matter of a copending application led of even date herewith.

In order that the hanger element may be inserted or removed from the header, the track surface I3 has an opening I9 adjacent the outer end of said piece; This opening is clearly shown in Figure 2 with the head of a suspending hanger being passed therethrough. The opening I9 is closed or filled by a plug or block 2B, shown in Figure 3. Y

In the modified form as suggested in Figure 4, the header is composed of side pieces IST-i and a center or filler strip l2. These pieces are grooved or cut to form internal trackways for header is made up of side and top pieces IBa andV Ib respectively, and a bottom track surface i3d.

from the lower face of the header to the internal The track surface is preferably 0f a hard wood to enable it to withstand the wear which is caused by the movement of the hanger element I1a thereover. The pieces of timber that make up the form of header shown in Figure are not grooved as illustrated in the forms of Figure 1 or Figure 4, but have straight walled surfaces that in the assembled form provide a square, or substantially square trackway.

In all of the forms of headers shown in the attached drawing, the header is intended to be used as suggested in Figure 1. In this view it will be noted that the Wooden header is built into the Wall structure and the side portions of the header are covered with plaster 2|, or any other desired type of wall finish. After the door is at-4 tached to the hanger elements, finishing strips 22-22 are fastened to the under surface of the track piece I3, leaving sufficient clearance for the door to have free sliding movement. Frame strips 23-23 may also be provided to finish off the exposed edge surfaces of the dQor opening.

After the Wooden header has, been built into the wall structure overlying a door opening, the door suspending Vbrackets are inserted into. the trackway through the opening, after which the plug isA applied tofthe opening to, completely close the same. The headed portion on the lower end of the bracket shank is positioned slightly below the under surface of the track piece and the door with the socketed plate is moved transversely with respect to the door opening to engage said headed portion. After the door is suspended -on the hangers the finishing strips and the door frame pieces are applied as suggested in Figure 1.

While I have shown a preferred form of wooden header, and some modification thereof, I Wish it to be understood that other variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection will appear from the appended claim.

a passageway for a sliding bracket, said base strip lbeing' provided with a longitudinally extending slot through which the bracket shank extends, the upper edges of the base-strip adjacent the slot being concaved-to jointly form a, vseat f or a ball roller bearing.

RALPH L. LONG. 

